Editing Alaska (section)

===Cities, towns and boroughs===
{{Further|List of cities in Alaska|List of boroughs and census areas in Alaska}}
{{See also|List of Alaska locations by per capita income}}

[[File:Anchorage1.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|[[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]], Alaska's largest city]]
[[File:Aerial view of Fairbanks Alaska skyline (Quintin Soloviev).jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|[[Fairbanks, Alaska|Fairbanks]], Alaska's second-largest city and by a significant margin the largest city in [[Alaska Interior|Alaska's interior]]]]
[[File:Downtown Juneau with Mount Juneau rising in the background.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|[[Juneau, Alaska|Juneau]], Alaska's third-largest city and [[List of capitals in the United States|its capital]]]]
[[File:Bethel Alaska aerial view.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|[[Bethel, Alaska|Bethel]], the largest city in the [[Unorganized Borough]] and in [[The Bush (Alaska)|rural Alaska]]]]
[[File:Looking into the sun from over downtown onto the Homer Spit..jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|[[Homer, Alaska|Homer]], showing (from bottom to top) the edge of downtown, [[Homer Airport|its airport]] and [[Homer Spit|the Spit]]]]
[[File:Barrow-Alaska-skyview.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|[[Utqiaġvik, Alaska|Utqiaġvik]] (Browerville neighborhood near [[Eben Hopson]] Middle School shown), known colloquially for many years by the nickname "Top of the World", is the northernmost city in the United States.]]
[[File:CordovaHillside.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|[[Cordova, Alaska|Cordova]], built in the early 20th century to support the [[Kennecott Mines]] and the [[Copper River and Northwestern Railway]], has been preserved as a fishing community since their closure.]]
[[File:Downtown Talkeetna.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Main Street in [[Talkeetna]]]]

Alaska is not divided into [[County (United States)|counties]], like [[Louisiana]]'s [[List of parishes in Louisiana|parishes]] and unlike most of the other U.S. states, but it is divided into ''[[List of boroughs and census areas in Alaska|boroughs]]''.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.countystate.info/alaska.htm| title=Alaska Boroughs—"Official" sites| website=Official Borough Websites| publisher=CountyState.Info| access-date=September 13, 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027120825/http://www.countystate.info/Alaska.htm| archive-date=October 27, 2007| url-status=live}}</ref> Delegates to the [[Alaska Constitutional Convention]] wanted to avoid the pitfalls of the traditional county system and adopted their own unique model.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.akhistorycourse.org/governing-alaska/local-government/|title=Local Government|work=Alaska Humanities Forum|access-date=November 4, 2021|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105013431/https://www.akhistorycourse.org/governing-alaska/local-government/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Many of the more densely populated parts of the state are part of Alaska's 16 boroughs, which function somewhat similarly to counties in other states. Unlike county-equivalents in the other states, the boroughs do not cover the state's entire land area. The area not part of any borough is referred to as the [[Unorganized Borough, Alaska|Unorganized Borough]].

The Unorganized Borough has no government of its own, but the [[U.S. Census Bureau]] in cooperation with the state divided the Unorganized Borough into 11 [[census area]]s solely for the purposes of statistical analysis and presentation. A ''recording district'' is a mechanism for management of the [[public record]] in Alaska. The state is divided into 34 recording districts which are centrally administered under a state [[recorder of deeds|recorder]]. All recording districts use the same acceptance criteria, fee schedule, etc., for accepting documents into the public record.

Whereas many U.S. states use a three-tiered system of decentralization—state/county/township—most of Alaska uses only two tiers—state/borough. Owing to the low population density, most of the land is located in the [[Unorganized Borough]]. As the name implies, it has no intermediate borough government but is administered directly by the state government. In 2000, 57.71% of Alaska's area has this status, with 13.05% of the population.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dixon|first=Mim|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=35SwDwAAQBAJ&q=Fairbanks+has+a+separate+borough+%28the+Fairbanks+North+Star+Borough%29+and+municipality+%28the+City+of+Fairbanks%29&pg=PT44|title=What Happened To Fairbanks?: The Effects of the Trans-alaska Oil Pipeline on the Community Of Fairbanks, Alaska|date=September 18, 2019|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-000-01076-3|access-date=November 8, 2020|archive-date=March 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331025411/https://books.google.com/books?id=35SwDwAAQBAJ&q=Fairbanks+has+a+separate+borough+%28the+Fairbanks+North+Star+Borough%29+and+municipality+%28the+City+of+Fairbanks%29&pg=PT44|url-status=live}}</ref>

Anchorage merged the city government with the Greater Anchorage Area Borough in 1975 to form the Municipality of Anchorage, containing the city proper and the communities of Eagle River, Chugiak, Peters Creek, Girdwood, Bird, and Indian. Fairbanks has a separate borough (the [[Fairbanks North Star Borough]]) and municipality (the City of Fairbanks).

The state's most populous city is [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]], home to 291,247 people in 2020.<ref name="2020 Census Data" /> The richest [[Alaska locations by per capita income|location in Alaska by per capita income]] is [[Denali Borough, Alaska|Denali]] ($42,245). [[Yakutat City]], Sitka, Juneau, and Anchorage are the four [[List of U.S. cities by area|largest cities in the U.S. by area]].

====Cities and census-designated places (by population)====
As reflected in the [[2020 United States census]], Alaska has a total of 355 incorporated cities and [[census-designated place]]s (CDPs).<ref name="2020 Census Gazetter">{{cite web | url = https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_02.txt | title = Places (2020): Alaska | format = [[Text file|TXT]] | publisher = United States Census Bureau | access-date = October 31, 2021 | archive-date = March 18, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210318010748/https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_02.txt | url-status = live }}</ref> The tally of cities includes four unified municipalities, essentially the equivalent of a [[consolidated city–county]]. The majority of these communities are located in the rural expanse of Alaska known as "[[The Bush (Alaska)|The Bush]]" and are unconnected to that contiguous North American road network. The table at the bottom of this section lists the 100 largest cities and census-designated places in Alaska, in population order.

Of Alaska's 2020 U.S. census population figure of 733,391, 16,655 people, or 2.27% of the population, did not live in an incorporated city or census-designated place.<ref name="2020 Census Data" /> Approximately three-quarters of that figure were people who live in urban and suburban neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city limits of Ketchikan, Kodiak, Palmer and Wasilla. CDPs have not been established for these areas by the United States Census Bureau, except that seven CDPs were established for the Ketchikan-area neighborhoods in the [[1980 United States census|1980 census]] (Clover Pass, Herring Cove, Ketchikan East, Mountain Point, [[Alaska Route 7]], [[Pennock Island]] and [[Saxman, Alaska|Saxman]] East), but have not been used since. The remaining population was scattered throughout Alaska, both within organized boroughs and in the Unorganized Borough, in largely remote areas.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

{|
|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No. !! Community name !! Type !! [[2020 United States census|2020]] Pop.<ref name="2020 Census Data">{{cite web|url = https://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/cen/2020-census-data.html|title = 2020 Census Data – Cities and Census Designated Places|format = Web|publisher = State of Alaska, Department of Labor and Workforce Development|access-date = October 31, 2021|archive-date = August 13, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210813033233/https://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/cen/2020-census-data.html|url-status = live}}</ref>
|-
| 1 || [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 291,247
|-
| 2 || [[Fairbanks, Alaska|Fairbanks]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 32,515
|-
| 3 || [[Juneau, Alaska|Juneau]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 32,255
|-
| 4 || [[Knik-Fairview, Alaska|Knik-Fairview]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 19,297
|-
| 5 || [[Badger, Alaska|Badger]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 19,031
|-
| 6 || [[College, Alaska|College]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 11,332
|-
| 7 || [[North Lakes, Alaska|North Lakes]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 9,450
|-
| 8 || [[Meadow Lakes, Alaska|Meadow Lakes]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 9,197
|-
| 9 || [[Wasilla, Alaska|Wasilla]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 9,054
|-
| 10 || [[Tanaina, Alaska|Tanaina]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 8,817
|-
| 11 || [[Kalifornsky, Alaska|Kalifornsky]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 8,487
|-
| 12 || [[Sitka, Alaska|Sitka]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 8,458
|-
| 13 || [[Ketchikan, Alaska|Ketchikan]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 8,192
|-
| 14 || [[Kenai, Alaska|Kenai]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 7,424
|-
| 15 || [[Steele Creek, Alaska|Steele Creek]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 6,437
|-
| 16 || [[Bethel, Alaska|Bethel]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 6,325
|-
| 17 || [[Chena Ridge, Alaska|Chena Ridge]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 6,015
|-
| 18 || [[Sterling, Alaska|Sterling]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 5,918
|-
| 19 || [[Palmer, Alaska|Palmer]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 5,888
|-
| 20 || [[Gateway, Alaska|Gateway]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 5,748
|-
| 21 || [[Kodiak, Alaska|Kodiak]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 5,581
|-
| 22 || [[Homer, Alaska|Homer]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 5,522
|-
| 23 || [[South Lakes, Alaska|South Lakes]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 5,229
|-
| 24 || [[Fishhook, Alaska|Fishhook]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 5,048
|-
| 25 || [[Utqiaġvik, Alaska|Utqiaġvik]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 4,927
|-
| 26 || [[Farmers Loop, Alaska|Farmers Loop]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 4,704
|-
| 27 || [[Nikiski, Alaska|Nikiski]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 4,456
|-
| 28 || [[Soldotna, Alaska|Soldotna]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 4,342
|-
| 29 || [[Unalaska, Alaska|Unalaska]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 4,254
|-
| 30 || [[Mill Bay, Alaska|Mill Bay]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 4,216
|-
| 31 || [[Valdez, Alaska|Valdez]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 3,985
|-
| 32 || [[Big Lake, Alaska|Big Lake]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 3,833
|-
| 33 || [[Nome, Alaska|Nome]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 3,699
|-
| 34 || [[Butte, Alaska|Butte]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 3,589
|-
| 35 || [[Goldstream, Alaska|Goldstream]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 3,299
|-
| 36 || [[Kotzebue, Alaska|Kotzebue]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 3,102
|-
| 37 || [[Petersburg, Alaska|Petersburg]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 3,043
|-
| 38 || [[Farm Loop, Alaska|Farm Loop]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 2,747
|-
| 39 || [[Seward, Alaska|Seward]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 2,717
|-
| 40 || [[Eielson Air Force Base|Eielson AFB]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 2,610
|-
| 41 || [[Cordova, Alaska|Cordova]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 2,609
|-
| 42 || [[Ester, Alaska|Ester]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 2,416
|-
| 43 || [[Deltana, Alaska|Deltana]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 2,359
|-
| 44 || [[Dillingham, Alaska|Dillingham]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 2,249
|-
| 45 || [[Fritz Creek, Alaska|Fritz Creek]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 2,248
|-
| 46 || [[North Pole, Alaska|North Pole]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 2,243
|-
| 47 || [[Willow, Alaska|Willow]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 2,196
|-
| 48 || [[Ridgeway, Alaska|Ridgeway]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 2,136
|-
| 49 || [[Bear Creek, Alaska|Bear Creek]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 2,129
|-
| 50 || [[Wrangell, Alaska|Wrangell]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 2,127
|}

| valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No. !! Community name !! Type !! [[2020 United States census|2020]] Pop.
|-
| 51 || [[Anchor Point, Alaska|Anchor Point]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 2,105
|-
| 52 || [[Houston, Alaska|Houston]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 1,975
|-
| 53 || [[Point MacKenzie, Alaska|Point MacKenzie]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 1,852
|-
| 54 || [[Kodiak Station, Alaska|Kodiak Station]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 1,673
|-
| 55 || [[Haines, Alaska|Haines]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 1,657
|-
| 56 || [[Akutan, Alaska|Akutan]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 1,589
|-
| 57 || [[Susitna North, Alaska|Susitna North]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 1,564
|-
| 58 || [[Lazy Mountain, Alaska|Lazy Mountain]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 1,506
|-
| 59 || [[Cohoe, Alaska|Cohoe]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 1,471
|-
| 60 || [[Metlakatla, Alaska|Metlakatla]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 1,454
|-
| 61 || [[Hooper Bay, Alaska|Hooper Bay]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 1,375
|-
| 62 || [[Diamond Ridge, Alaska|Diamond Ridge]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 1,330
|-
| 63 || [[Prudhoe Bay, Alaska|Prudhoe Bay]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 1,310
|-
| 64 || [[Tok, Alaska|Tok]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 1,243
|-
| 65 || [[Skagway, Alaska|Skagway]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 1,164
|-
| 66 || [[Funny River, Alaska|Funny River]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 1,103
|-
| 67 || [[Salamatof, Alaska|Salamatof]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 1,078
|-
| 68 || [[Talkeetna, Alaska|Talkeetna]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 1,055
|-
| 69 || [[Sutton-Alpine, Alaska|Sutton-Alpine]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 1,038
|-
| 70 || [[Craig, Alaska|Craig]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 1,036
|-
| 71 || [[Buffalo Soapstone, Alaska|Buffalo Soapstone]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 1,021
|-
| 72 || [[Salcha, Alaska|Salcha]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 977
|-
| 73 || [[Healy, Alaska|Healy]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 966
|-
| 74 || [[Chevak, Alaska|Chevak]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 951
|-
| 75 || [[Hoonah, Alaska|Hoonah]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 931
|-
| 76 || [[Delta Junction, Alaska|Delta Junction]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 918
|-
| 77 || [[Ninilchik, Alaska|Ninilchik]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 845
|-
| 78 || [[Savoonga, Alaska|Savoonga]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 835
|-
| 79 || [[Point Hope, Alaska|Point Hope]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 830
|-
| 80 || [[Emmonak, Alaska|Emmonak]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 825
|-
| 81 || [[Togiak, Alaska|Togiak]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 817
|-
| 82 || [[Kwethluk, Alaska|Kwethluk]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 812
|-
| 83 || [[Selawik, Alaska|Selawik]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 809
|-
| 84 || [[Knik River, Alaska|Knik River]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 792
|-
| 85 || [[Quinhagak, Alaska|Quinhagak]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 776
|-
| 86 || [[Unalakleet, Alaska|Unalakleet]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 765
|-
| 87 || [[King Cove, Alaska|King Cove]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 757
|-
| 88 || [[Alakanuk, Alaska|Alakanuk]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 756
|-
| 89 || [[Womens Bay, Alaska|Womens Bay]]|| CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 743
|-
| 90 || [[Klawock, Alaska|Klawock]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 720
|-
| 91 || [[Happy Valley, Alaska|Happy Valley]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 713
|-
| 92 || [[Kipnuk, Alaska|Kipnuk]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 704
|-
| 93 || [[Noorvik, Alaska|Noorvik]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 694
|-
| 94 || [[Akiachak, Alaska|Akiachak]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 677
|-
| 95 || [[Toksook Bay, Alaska|Toksook Bay]] || City || style="text-align:right;" | 658
|-
| 96 || [[Yakutat, Alaska|Yakutat]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 657
|-
| rowspan="2" |97 || [[Gustavus, Alaska|Gustavus]] || CDP || rowspan="2" style="text-align:right;" | 655
|-
| [[Kotlik, Alaska|Kotlik]] || CDP
|-
| 99 || [[Two Rivers, Alaska|Two Rivers]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 650
|-
| 100 || [[Fox River, Alaska|Fox River]] || CDP || style="text-align:right;" | 644
|}

|}